If you regularly watch the news, it may feel as if you hear many stories about train derailments. You’re not mistaken. Trails derail quite often. While very few derailments result in someone losing their life, many catastrophic events leave individuals suffering from debilitating, permanent injuries.

One of the biggest fears that most of us have in taking public or mass transit trains is being in a situation where we’re not in control. We can’t see potential hazards that lie ahead to know when it’s not safe to proceed, nor do we know details about who’s guiding the vehicle we’re riding in. We put our faith in others to hire the right people and trust that those individuals will exercise good judgment; however, things can happen that jeopardize our lives.

An Illinois family that was on board the Amtrak train that derailed in Missouri on June 27, 2022 is among those who will be filing lawsuits against the train operator, the railroad company, and the company operating the dump truck that was blocking the tracks as well as other potentially responsible parties.

The family of four, who was transported to a hospital for their injuries, contacted Krzak Rundio Gorman, Injury Attorneys to get answers regarding the multiple failures that led to the derailment. The derailment caused them to sustain serious injuries that have changed their lives both physically and emotionally while on their trip home from a family wedding in Oklahoma.

A train derailment happens when a train comes off its rails. Train tracks are designed to have two steel rails at a fixed distance apart. These rails are responsible for keeping the train wheels moving along the course of the tracks. When a train comes off its rails, the implications can be dangerous, especially if there are passengers or heavy cargo onboard. In the most devastating train derailments, passengers and occupants can be seriously injured if the train’s momentum causes it to come off the tracks and topple over on its side or crash into other compartments.

When you’re in a rush to get to your destination, whether you’re in a car or walking, you might be less likely to pay attention to railroad crossings, and just speed right through them. But these aren’t areas to be taken lightly because one misstep could be deadly.

Many Chicago residents rely on trains as their main way of commuting to work and other destinations. Often when there’s an accident, it’s because of human error, including the train operator’s negligence, negligent maintenance of the train or crossing gates, or negligent maintenance of the tracks. Unfortunately, train accidents result in serious injuries and fatalities which could have been prevented if the negligent party had acted responsibly.

When you’re dealing with a train accident claim, you need trusted legal professionals who will make sure your rights are protected. A Chicago train accident lawyer from the Krzak Rundio Gorman, Injury Attorneys will stand up for you and vigorously represent your interests make sure your rights are protected and your goals achieved.

Train accidents are more common than you may think. According to data from the Federal Railroad Administration, there were nearly 12,000 train accidents and incidents occurred in 2017. As a result, six individuals lost their lives and hundreds were injuries. In most cases, the unfortunate fact is that those accidents could have been prevented if the proper precautions had been taken.

Legal matters involving train companies can become incredibly complex. At Krzak & Rundio, our Chicago train accident lawyers have experience assisting clients with complicated legal cases, including derailments. We can help you, too.